U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Dyskeratosis congenita, autosomal dominant 1(DKCA1)

MedGen UID:
1645250
Concept ID:
C4551974
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: DKCA1; Dyskeratosis congenita autosomal dominant; Dyskeratosis congenita Scoggins type
 
Genes (locations): TERC (3q26.2); TERT (5p15.33); TINF2 (14q12)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0007485
OMIM®: 127550

Disease characteristics

Dyskeratosis congenita and related telomere biology disorders (DC/TBD) are caused by impaired telomere maintenance resulting in short or very short telomeres. The phenotypic spectrum of telomere biology disorders is broad and includes individuals with classic dyskeratosis congenita (DC) as well as those with very short telomeres and an isolated physical finding. Classic DC is characterized by a triad of dysplastic nails, lacy reticular pigmentation of the upper chest and/or neck, and oral leukoplakia, although this may not be present in all individuals. People with DC/TBD are at increased risk for progressive bone marrow failure (BMF), myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukemia, solid tumors (usually squamous cell carcinoma of the head/neck or anogenital cancer), and pulmonary fibrosis. Other findings can include eye abnormalities (epiphora, blepharitis, sparse eyelashes, ectropion, entropion, trichiasis), taurodontism, liver disease, gastrointestinal telangiectasias, and avascular necrosis of the hips or shoulders. Although most persons with DC/TBD have normal psychomotor development and normal neurologic function, significant developmental delay is present in both forms; additional findings include cerebellar hypoplasia (Hoyeraal Hreidarsson syndrome) and bilateral exudative retinopathy and intracranial calcifications (Revesz syndrome and Coats plus syndrome). Onset and progression of manifestations of DC/TBD vary: at the mild end of the spectrum are those who have only minimal physical findings with normal bone marrow function, and at the severe end are those who have the diagnostic triad and early-onset BMF. [from GeneReviews]
Authors:
Sharon A Savage  |  Marena R Niewisch   view full author information

Additional description

From OMIM
Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare multisystem disorder caused by defective telomere maintenance. Clinical features are highly variable and include bone marrow failure, predisposition to malignancy, and pulmonary and hepatic fibrosis. The classic clinical triad of abnormal skin pigmentation, leukoplakia, and nail dystrophy is not always observed. Other features include premature graying of the hair, osteoporosis, epiphora, dental abnormalities and testicular atrophy, and gastrointestinal disease (review by Bessler et al., 2007 and Bessler et al., 2010). Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome (HHS) refers to a clinically severe variant of DKC that is characterized by multisystem involvement and early onset in utero. Patients with HHS may show intrauterine growth retardation, microcephaly, delayed development, bone marrow failure, immunodeficiency, cerebellar hypoplasia, and gastrointestinal disease (enteropathy and enterocolitis). Death often occurs in childhood (summary by Walne et al., 2013). Genetic Heterogeneity of Dyskeratosis Congenita and Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson Syndrome Dyskeratosis congenita is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, showing autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, X-linked, and digenic inheritance. Additional autosomal dominant forms include DKCA2 (613989), caused by mutation in the TERT gene (187270) on chromosome 5p15; DKCA3 (613990), caused by mutation in the TINF2 gene (604319) on chromosome 14q12; DKCA4 (see 615190), caused by mutation in the RTEL1 gene (608833) on chromosome 20q13, DKCA5 (268130), caused by mutation in the TINF2 gene (604319) on chromosome 14q12, and DKCA6 (616553), caused by mutation in the ACD gene (609377) on chromosome 16q22. Autosomal recessive forms include DKCB1 (224230), caused by mutation in the NOLA3 gene (606471) on chromosome 15q14; DKCB2 (613987), caused mutation in the NOLA2 gene (606470) on chromosome 5q35; DKCB3 (613988), caused by mutation in the TCAB1 gene (WRAP53; 612661) on chromosome 17p13; DKCB4 (see 613989), caused by mutation in the TERT gene; DKCB5 (615190), caused by mutation in the RTEL1 gene (608833) on chromosome 20q13; DKCB6 (616353), caused by mutation in the PARN gene (604212) on chromosome 16p13; DKCB7 (see 616553), caused by mutation in the ACD gene (609377) on chromosome 16q22; and DKCB8 (620133), caused by mutation in the DCLRE1B gene (609683) on chromosome 1p13. X-linked recessive DKCX (305000) is caused by mutation in the dyskerin gene (DKC1; 300126) on Xq28. DKCD (620040) is a digenic form of the disorder, caused by mutations in the TYMS gene (188350) combined with variations in the ENOSF1 gene (607427), both of which are on chromosome 18p11. Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome, the severe clinical variant of DKC, can be caused by mutation in several different DKC-associated genes; see, e.g., DKC1 (300136), TINF2 (604319), TERT (187270), and RTEL1 (608833). See also adult-onset telomere-related pulmonary fibrosis and/or bone marrow failure syndrome-1 and -2 (PFBMFT1, 614742 and PFBMFT2, 614743), which are caused by mutations in the TERT and TERC genes, respectively. These disorders share some features of DKC, but show later onset and do not have skin abnormalities. The disorders related to telomere shortening are part of a phenotypic spectrum. Mutation in the CTC1 gene (613129) on chromosome 17p13 causes cerebroretinal microangiopathy with calcifications and cysts (CRMCC; 612199), another telomere-related disorder with overlapping features of DKC.  http://www.omim.org/entry/127550

Clinical features

From HPO
Myelodysplasia
MedGen UID:
10231
Concept ID:
C0026985
Congenital Abnormality
Clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by dysplasia (ineffective production) in one or more hematopoietic cell lineages, leading to anemia and cytopenia.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
MedGen UID:
107512
Concept ID:
C0553723
Neoplastic Process
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is a malignant tumor of squamous epithelium.
Budd-Chiari syndrome
MedGen UID:
163632
Concept ID:
C0856761
Disease or Syndrome
Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is caused by obstruction of hepatic venous outflow at any level from the small hepatic veins to the junction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with the right atrium, 1 and occurs in 1/100,000 of the general population worldwide. The most common presentation is with ascites, but can range from fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) to asymptomatic forms. Obstruction of hepatic venous outflow is mainly caused by primary intravascular thrombosis, which can occur suddenly or be repeated over time, accompanied by some revascularization, accounting for the variable parenchymal hepatic damage and histologic presentation. Budd-Chiari syndrome is thus a disease, but since it occurs as a manifestation of several other diseases, this term is kept for the present for convenience.
Cirrhosis of liver
MedGen UID:
7368
Concept ID:
C0023890
Disease or Syndrome
A chronic disorder of the liver in which liver tissue becomes scarred and is partially replaced by regenerative nodules and fibrotic tissue resulting in loss of liver function.
Hepatic necrosis
MedGen UID:
57487
Concept ID:
C0151798
Disease or Syndrome
The presence of cell death (necrosis) affecting the liver.
Cerebellar ataxia
MedGen UID:
849
Concept ID:
C0007758
Disease or Syndrome
Cerebellar ataxia refers to ataxia due to dysfunction of the cerebellum. This causes a variety of elementary neurological deficits including asynergy (lack of coordination between muscles, limbs and joints), dysmetria (lack of ability to judge distances that can lead to under- or overshoot in grasping movements), and dysdiadochokinesia (inability to perform rapid movements requiring antagonizing muscle groups to be switched on and off repeatedly).
Cerebellar hypoplasia
MedGen UID:
120578
Concept ID:
C0266470
Congenital Abnormality
Cerebellar hypoplasia is a descriptive term implying a cerebellum with a reduced volume, but a normal shape and is stable over time.
Specific learning disability
MedGen UID:
871302
Concept ID:
C4025790
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Impairment of certain skills such as reading or writing, coordination, self-control, or attention that interfere with the ability to learn. The impairment is not related to a global deficiency of intelligence.
Anemia
MedGen UID:
1526
Concept ID:
C0002871
Disease or Syndrome
A reduction in erythrocytes volume or hemoglobin concentration.
Aplastic anemia
MedGen UID:
8063
Concept ID:
C0002874
Disease or Syndrome
Aplastic anemia is a serious disorder of the bone marrow that affects between 2 and 5 persons per million per year. About 75% of these cases are classified as idiopathic (Young, 2000). In about 15% of cases a drug or infection can be identified that precipitates the aplasia, although why only some individuals are susceptible is unclear. In about 5 to 10% of patients, the aplastic anemia is constitutional--i.e., is familial or presents with one or more associated somatic abnormalities (summary by Vulliamy et al., 2002).
Thrombocytopenia
MedGen UID:
52737
Concept ID:
C0040034
Disease or Syndrome
A reduction in the number of circulating thrombocytes.
Increased mean corpuscular volume
MedGen UID:
81303
Concept ID:
C0302845
Finding
Larger than normal size of erythrocytes.
Bone marrow hypocellularity
MedGen UID:
383749
Concept ID:
C1855710
Finding
A reduced number of hematopoietic cells present in the bone marrow relative to marrow fat.
Osteoporosis
MedGen UID:
14535
Concept ID:
C0029456
Disease or Syndrome
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue with a consequent increase in bone fragility. According to the WHO criteria, osteoporosis is defined as a BMD that lies 2.5 standard deviations or more below the average value for young healthy adults (a T-score below -2.5 SD).
Dyspnea
MedGen UID:
3938
Concept ID:
C0013404
Sign or Symptom
Difficult or labored breathing. Dyspnea is a subjective feeling only the patient can rate, e.g., on a Borg scale.
Pulmonary fibrosis
MedGen UID:
11028
Concept ID:
C0034069
Disease or Syndrome
Replacement of normal lung tissues by fibroblasts and collagen.
Interstitial pneumonitis
MedGen UID:
61507
Concept ID:
C0206061
Disease or Syndrome
Inflammation of interstitial lung tissue, usually associated with infection.
Leukopenia
MedGen UID:
6073
Concept ID:
C0023530
Disease or Syndrome
An abnormal decreased number of leukocytes in the blood.
Lymphopenia
MedGen UID:
7418
Concept ID:
C0024312
Disease or Syndrome
A reduced number of lymphocytes in the blood.
Carious teeth
MedGen UID:
8288
Concept ID:
C0011334
Disease or Syndrome
Caries is a multifactorial bacterial infection affecting the structure of the tooth. This term has been used to describe the presence of more than expected dental caries.
Oral mucosa leukoplakia
MedGen UID:
9738
Concept ID:
C0023532
Neoplastic Process
A thickened white patch on the oral mucosa that cannot be rubbed off.
Premature loss of teeth
MedGen UID:
66678
Concept ID:
C0232513
Finding
Exfoliation of a tooth more than 2 SD earlier than the normal age for the deciduous teeth and not related to traume or neglect. Exfoliation of a permanent tooth is per se abnormal.
Alopecia
MedGen UID:
7982
Concept ID:
C0002170
Finding
A noncongenital process of hair loss, which may progress to partial or complete baldness.
Nail pits
MedGen UID:
57463
Concept ID:
C0150993
Finding
Small (typically about 1 mm or less in size) depressions on the dorsal nail surface.
Dermal atrophy
MedGen UID:
101793
Concept ID:
C0151514
Disease or Syndrome
Partial or complete wasting (atrophy) of the skin.
Nail dystrophy
MedGen UID:
66368
Concept ID:
C0221260
Disease or Syndrome
Onychodystrophy (nail dystrophy) refers to nail changes apart from changes of the color (nail dyschromia) and involves partial or complete disruption of the various keratinous layers of the nail plate.
Premature graying of hair
MedGen UID:
75524
Concept ID:
C0263498
Finding
Development of gray hair at a younger than normal age.
Ridged nail
MedGen UID:
140853
Concept ID:
C0423820
Finding
Longitudinal, linear prominences in the nail plate.
Reticular hyperpigmentation
MedGen UID:
338832
Concept ID:
C1851972
Finding
Increased pigmentation of the skin with a netlike (reticular) pattern.
Sparse hair
MedGen UID:
1790211
Concept ID:
C5551005
Finding
Reduced density of hairs.

Professional guidelines

Curated

Dokal I, Vulliamy T, Mason P, Bessler M
Eur J Hum Genet 2011 Nov;19(11) Epub 2011 May 25 doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2011.90. PMID: 21610750Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Vittal A, Niewisch MR, Bhala S, Kudaravalli P, Rahman F, Hercun J, Kleiner DE, Savage SA, Koh C, Heller T, Giri N
Hepatology 2023 Dec 1;78(6):1777-1787. Epub 2023 May 16 doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000461. PMID: 37184208Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Vittal A, Niewisch MR, Bhala S, Kudaravalli P, Rahman F, Hercun J, Kleiner DE, Savage SA, Koh C, Heller T, Giri N
Hepatology 2023 Dec 1;78(6):1777-1787. Epub 2023 May 16 doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000461. PMID: 37184208Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Vittal A, Niewisch MR, Bhala S, Kudaravalli P, Rahman F, Hercun J, Kleiner DE, Savage SA, Koh C, Heller T, Giri N
Hepatology 2023 Dec 1;78(6):1777-1787. Epub 2023 May 16 doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000461. PMID: 37184208Free PMC Article

Supplemental Content

Recent activity

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

See more...